19 Straight by Rapid Redux

So Rapid Redux won his 19th race in a row! Congrats, that tied a record that was shared by New Mexico superstar Pepper's Pride, as well as the one and only Zenyatta. Next up will be a try of holding the record on his own which would be a North American record. However, I'm a little bit bugged by this win streak by the Pleasently Perfect gelding.

This was a horse who up until actually 1 year ago was struggling in claiming races (he was claimed on October 13, 2010 for $6,250 after crossing the wire first, but dq'ed to last by his current owner Robert Cole). After winning his first start for his current team (which actually happend 1 year ago today), he finished eighth in his next start. Has been nothing, but money since with all wins.

So what gives? Why has this horse all of a sudden turned things around. I asked this question to a few Facebook friends of mine, knowing that I am a little bit of a overthinker sometimes I said that I was not impressed. Of course I was shot down right away, which is why I expected. Both Pepper and Z where critized for their connnections less risk taking decisions, why is Rapid Redux off limits? Any horse who has that type of win streak should not off limits to criticizm. That's just the way the ball bounces sometimes.

However, there is a different between Pepper and Z as well as Redux. Pepper's connections where never willing to go outside of New Mexico, thus not knowing how good she really was. As Kentucky breds, the options for Redux and Z where much smaller. They had no choice, but to face "Open" (what I mean is horses born anywhere no matter the state or country) company. Also before his struggling in claiming company, he was owned by George and Lori Hall (of Ruler On Ice, Fire On Ice fame) and even ran 3rd in the Tyro as a 2yo (abeit he was last, but he was good enough to be stakes placed).

Dispite me being a bit not impressed by Rapid Redux's success, this is something that has impressed me. During his win streak he has gone to 7 different tracks and has had 7 different jockeys. That to me is impressive.

Number 20 will be the most diffcult as there will be people who will be rooting against him so that Zenyatta can stay on top. As for me, I'm on the fence. I have to see where the track is and who shows up. Needless to say though, I will be watching no matter what happens.

UConn, UCLA, Pepper and Z- Amazing Streaks

What do the UConn Women's Basketball Team, the UCLA Men's Basketball Team, and two horses New Mexico legend Pepper's Pride and of course the one and only Zenyatta have in common? Consecutive win streaks. Today the Huskies tied the Bruins for most wins in a row, on Tuesday they more then likely will hold that title on their own (they already have the Woman's Record for consecutive wins). That got me thinking about Pepper and Z. However, much like it's not fair to compare John Wooden's teams to Geno Auriemma's teams. It's not fair to compare to two fillies to each other.

For one, all of Pepper's wins where against state bred competition and never faced outside company. She tied and broke the record against Allowance company. There was a lot of heat on her owners and trainer for not taking a risk and going to outside company. Now she is living in Kentucky in foal to Distorted Humor, in a way poetic justice. While we never knew how good she really was, there is always that what if.

For Zenyatta, it's even more impressive. Yes as a KY bred, she had no choice but to face open company. Keep in mind though, due to her sheer size and nervousness that her siblings (especially Balance from what I hear), she didn't make her first start till her 3 year old season. And that was after Hard Spun, Street Sense, and Any Given Saturday where retired, Curlin was done for the year, Octave was retired and lastly Rags to Riches. She was really until her Apple Blossom win, knowns as Balance's little sister. As we soon realized though, she was her own horse and she will be the standard bearer for fillies and mares in the future. Unlike Pepper however, Z did not finish her career undefeated, but in a way that made people love her more.

UCLA was beaten by Notre Dame, UConn lost their first streak to Villanova. Blame was Z's ND and Nova, while Pepper never had to go though that. With that being said, Zenyatta did win the BC Classic the first filly or mare to win the race and finished second in the AP voting twice (last year to Serena Williams, this year to Lindsey Vonn). In the end, much like UCLA and UConn have set the bar, Pepper's Pride and Zenyatta will be the standard for consectutive wins in North America. If their foals could be half as good as they where, that would be great for racing.

Here is Pepper's final win,



And Z's